#3 on the 2022 Bacon Top 31 — Kevin Morby

January 29, 2023 by Royal Stuart

This Is a Photograph by Kevin Morby

I’ve had an unconscious aversion to Kevin Morby throughout his career. Despite him having released, over the past 23 years, seven studio albums under his own name, and an additional five as a member of two other bands (The Babies and Woods, the latter of which appeared on the Top 31 after Morby’s departure, at #31 in 2014), this is the first time Kevin Morby has appeared on the Top 31, ever. And what an appearance he’s made.

The album taking Morby from zero to hero¹ is the astoundingly good This is a Photograph. Starting off with the best song on the album, the title song is one that’s sure to get any listener up out of there seat. What starts off slow, just Morby and his guitar, singing about a photograph he found of his dad with his shirt off, holding Morby as a newborn and Morby’s sister at their side, standing in their front yard beneath the West Texas sun. In the photo, Morby’s dad is the age that the younger Morby is today, and he vocalizes what he imagines his dad is thinking the moment the photo is taken, “This is what I’ll miss after I’ll die, and this is what I’ll miss about being alive: my body, my girls, my boy, the sun.”

It‘s an existential, midlife crisis-like reflection. Morby sounds like he’s questioning his own place in the world. The song builds on that same refrain, talking about the concept of time giving up, then about his mother in Kentucky, then even about himself in Tennessee, ready to take the world on, but still thinking of the things we’ll all miss after we die, the things we’ll miss about being alive. It moves you deeply and gets you to move, deeply.

Once it hits that plateau, the rest of the album just coasts there across the top. Through The War on Drugs-esque songs like “A Random Act of Kindness,” slowing down for “Bittersweet, TN,” a gorgeous country duet with folk pop singer Erin Rae, over to somewhat silly rockers like “Rockbottom” (with a video starring the great Tim Heidecker no less). It’s got a little something for everyone.

Morby didn’t really hit my radar until the pandemic started in 2020. I wrote about he and his partner Katie Crutchfield (the one and only Waxahatchee) in my review of her #1 album, Saint Cloud:

A week before the release of the album (on March 27, 2020), just as the lockdown was beginning, she and her boyfriend Kevin Morby … began hosting weekly Thursday-night Instagram livestreams, where they performed both Waxahatchee and Kevin Morby originals and numerous covers, and had guest stars dial in, such as Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes and Crutchfield’s musical twin sister, Allison. They produced a Tiny Desk Concert From Home for NPR, and Waxahatchee was the headliner for the virtual KEXPY Awards from KEXP this past December. These were poor substitutes for an in-person live performance, but having her hold our virtual hands through the darkness that was 2020 was so much better than having nothing at all.

I fell in love with Crutchfield’s music despite of, or maybe because of, the pandemic lockdown, but I wasn’t yet convinced that Kevin Morby was for me. His sixth album, Sundowner, came out later that same year. I listened to it maybe twice. And earlier this year, the world seemed to be conspiring against me getting into Photograph, too. The album came out on May 13, 2022, the same day as Kendrick Lamar (#16)and The Smile (#15), and just a week after Sharon Van Etten (#6). That’s a crazy week for music, a lot of big name, repeat Top 31 performers. And it didn’t take me long to declare Photograph the best of all of those. A day after the full album was released, I put out a photo on social media showing all of those albums ganged up, declaring “Don’t miss out on [Kevin Morby]. It is the best one of all.” Such was the power of this album.

I got to see Morby perform at the Showbox in November, and of course he started the set with “This is a Photograph” — the song is one of the best opening tracks ever. In addition to playing all of the songs I wanted to hear from the album (including “Stop Before I Cry,” his paean to Crutchfield), he played a few songs from his vast back catalog, songs I didn’t know by heart. And I loved them, too. “City Music,” from his 2017 fourth album of the same name, was my favorite of the bunch. Hearing it again just now, I can confidently say that Morby’s music hasn’t really changed in a way that finally landed in a spot for me to like it, but rather it is I who have changed, finally ready to hear everything Morby has to offer. Over this year, I’ll be diving into his past albums (and the lovely soundtrack to the film “Montana Story” that he just put out last week). Join me on this venture, won’t you?

^{1. That’s not quite fair of me to say. I’ve only barely listened to Morby’s past work.↩}

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4. Lucifer On the Sofa by Spoon
5. Palomino by First Aid Kit
6. We've Been Going About This All Wrong by Sharon Van Etten
7. SOS by SZA
8. Wet Leg by Wet Leg
9. Chloë and the Next 20th Century by Father John Misty
10. Big Time by Angel Olsen
11. Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road
12. Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To the Sky by Porridge Radio
13. I Walked with You a Ways by Plains
14. The Last Goodbye by Odesza
15. A Light for Attracting Attention by The Smile
16. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar
17. Inside Problems by Andrew Bird
18. Laurel Hell by Mitski
19. Full Moon Project by Phosphorescent
20. Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C.
21. I Love You Jennifer B by Jockstrap
22. Too Much to Ask by Cheekface
23. Dripfield by Goose
24. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You by Big Thief
25. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow by Weyes Blood
26. NOT TiGHT by DOMi & JD BECK
27. Preacher’s Daughter by Ethel Cain
28. Live at KEXP, vol. 10 by Various Artists
29. All You Need Is Time by Daisy the Great
30. Cool It Down by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
31. CAPRISONGS by FKA twigs

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#1 on the 2021 Bacon Top 31 — The War on Drugs

January 31, 2022 by Royal Stuart

I Don’t Live Here Anymore by The War on Drugs

We’re now a month into 2022, I’m 48 years old, my kids are 13 and 4, and I’m finally willing to admit it: I love dad rock. My parents raised me on classic rock (shout out to KMOD 97.5 FM in Tulsa, Oklahoma). My tastes have been shaped by a heavy foundation of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Eagles (for better or worse). I’m aware that a lot of what I have loved in the past decade could be categorized as dad rock – previous Top 31 #1s like The National, Elbow, Phosphorescent, and Bon Iver all qualify. But none of those are so obviously Dad Rock with a capital D as the #1 of 2021: The War of Drugs. I’m fairly certain if you look up “dad rock” in the dictionary, you’ll find a glamour shot of lead singer / songwriter Adam Granduciel, with his flowing locks, vaseline smeared on the lens, with ghostlike images of his band flanked around him.

I Don’t Live Here Anymore, their fifth studio album, quickly jumped into the running for top album when it was released on October 29, 2021. At the time, I had already convinced myself that Big Red Machine was going to be my #1, given how much my family loved hearing How Long Do You Think It‘s Going to Last over the year. But the first time I heard that strong piano ring out on the opening song of Anymore (“Living Proof,” shown in the video above - hit play on that right now while you read on), my knees got shaky, my confidence wavered. There’s just something about Granduciel’s raspy voice, his beautiful songwriting, his strong melodies — this album grabbed ahold of my playlist and muscled its way to the front. My wife fell in love with it, too – we must have listened to the album at least three times a week from the day it came out. And the excitement when it comes on hasn’t yet worn off – will it ever?

The War on Drugs perfected the form: that classic rock sound of the 70s and 80s, in songs about lost love while driving down the highway over sweeping crescendos and slow guitar solos. This album took me back to my childhood so much that I actually sent the album to my dad for Christmas, and of course he loves it, too. Truly Dad Rock. I dare you to listen to the fourth song, “I Don’t Wanna Wait,” and not picture in your mind’s eye a musical montage showing Crockett and Tubbs flying across the waves of the Atlantic in a speedboat on their way to break up a cocaine deal gone bad.

Granduciel, whose real name is Adam Granofsky, leads the charge in the band, but there’s five other members who make up the current lineup: David Hartley on bass, Robbie Bennett on keyboards, Charlie Hall on drums, Jon Natchez on sax and Anthony LaMarca on rhythm guitar. Various members have dropped in an out since they formed in 2005 (including Kurt Vile, who was an original member before breaking off for his own solo work), but this lineup has been intact since their third album, Lost in the Dream took the world by storm (and appeared at #13 in the Top 31 that year).

This is now the third album put out by this particular War on Drugs lineup. In addition to Dream, their last album, A Deeper Understanding, also appeared on the Top 31, but it was near the bottom at #29 in 2017, mainly due to me not giving the proper chance. It won Best Rock Album at the Grammys that year. I have no excuse, but I do plan on returning to it, thanks to the strength of Anymore.

And Anymore is such a strong album. I recommend headphones when you put it on. Granduciel is legendary for the amount of time he spends on the production of his albums. Hints of Jimmy Iovine’s production of Tom Petty’s Damn the Torpedoes run throughout. It’s a pristine recording, something you can’t hear just anywhere. One of my favorite sounds in all of music is the quick, high-pitched yet intimate sound that the pads of fingers make when quickly moved up and down the neck of a guitar while searching for that next chord. Listen for it – once you hear it, you can’t stop hearing it.

Granduciel and band have found the top of the mountain. The tip top comes at the second song on the album, “Harmonia’s Dream.” At nearly six and a half minutes, it builds an amazing wall of sounds across two verses and choruses before taking a turn at 2:45 when the keyboards pierce through at the three minute mark into an extended bridge that will leave you in a fit of anticipation but the time the full band kicks in again at the 4:45 point. Then everything hits all at once and you’re moving and shaking uncontrollably when the guitar solo kicks in at 5:15. “You’re on your own” the band sings in harmony – and they’re right. The world has melted away, the bad is gone, and you’re left with pure joy.

The title song is also fantastic, with the gorgeous harmonies of Lucius filling in the chorus.

Granduciel appeared on Song Exploder to talk about the making of this song, how Lucius got involved, how the end of the first stanza is filled with nonsense words… it’s a good listen.

The War on Drugs hit peak form, and I’m very curious to hear where they head next. Similar to the Nation of Language album at #4, I have trouble imagining them continuing without breaking out of their tried-and-true format. But they’ve done it consistently now for three albums, so maybe the formula is so dialed in that it doesn’t need to change. It’s clear that what started in the 70s and 80s has retained enough uncharted territory to leave room for new music here in the 2020s. I’m so excited to hear what’s next, and hopefully it hits on all the right 40-year-old notes.

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#29 on the 2017 Bacon Top 31

January 03, 2018 by Royal Stuart

A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs

If you were following The Bacon Review back during the Top 31 of 2014, then you’re already familiar with the band here at #29, The War on Drugs. Their third album, Lost in the Dream, appeared at #13 that year. A Deeper Understanding is their fourth album, and it’s a clear continuation of what they had back then.

My view of the band hasn’t changed — this is dad rock of the highest caliber. Think of the music made towards the end of the Grateful Dead run, or any solo music made by the Eagles after the band went their separate ways (before reuniting, of course), and that’s exactly where The War on Drugs is.

This is a good, poppy album from start to finish. There have been a few good videos from it, including the one for “Holding On” above (the best song on the album), as well as “Pain” and the quirky “Nothing to Find”. If you liked their last album, you’ll like this one every bit as much.

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30. Planetarium by Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, & James McAlister
31. A Moment Apart by Odesza

2009-2016 Top 31s

#13 on the 2014 Bacon Top 31

December 19, 2014 by Royal Stuart

Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs

First we have Warpaint, now we have The War on Drugs. An indie rock band from Philadelphia, The War on Drugs is a throwback to another era of rock and roll. If you grew up in the 80s, when saxophones and keyboards played a bigger role in the sounds that were coming out of the aging classic rock crowd (think: Glenn Frey, Bruce Springsteen), then Lost in the Dream will resonate well.

The War on Drugs has been around for nearly a decade, started in 2005 by Kurt Vile and Adam Granduciel. Vile left the band shortly after the band’s debut album, Wagonwheel Blues, came out in 2008. While Grandunciel has carried on with The War on Drugs, he also helped Vile get his footing, playing as part of Vile’s backing band The Violators through their 2011 release, Smoke Ring for My Halo.

Vile’s records have been good in their own right, but Lost in the Dream is the best thing to come out of either musician in their time. These songs feel less about telling stories, more about evoking a mood, one that would be right at home on a Miami Vice episode. This description may not sounds like I’m being nice, but I do mean that in the best way possible. This is a great album. It’s solid from start to finish, with some hard rocking tunes, and some slower thought pieces with heavy guitar reverb. If you like Dire Straits, Phil Collins, and other 80s classic rock, then you’ll love this album. But if hearing those names doesn’t resonate with you, don’t let that stop you from listening. This album stands on its own, and it is well worth listening to.

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14. Warpaint by Warpaint
15. Heal by Strand of Oaks
16. Stay Gold by First Aid Kit
17. This is All Yours by ∆
18. Brill Bruisers by The New Pornographers
19. Only Run by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
20. Augustines by Augustines
21. El Pintor by Interpol
22. I Never Learn by Lykke Li
23. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes by Thom Yorke
24. The Voyager by Jenny Lewis
25. Voices by Phantogram
26. Morning Phase by Beck
27. Hungry Ghosts by OK Go
28. Run the Jewels 2 by Run the Jewels
29. Cosmos by Yellow Ostrich
30. Teeth Dreams by The Hold Steady
31. With Light & With Love by Woods

2009-2013 Top 31s